Complex Relationships
If any of this sounds familiar…
You feel like you’re never enough…
You’re criticized constantly…
Your partner only seems concerned with getting what THEY want or what makes THEM feel good…
Your partner is self-obsessed or absorbed into substances or some other unhealthy activity…
You often feel confused or even CRAZY…
If you’re nodding your head, “yes,” you might be in a relationship with someone with narcissistic or addictive tendencies.
Ginger* spent several hours getting ready…
… for her boyfriend’s holiday party. She wanted him to approve of how she looked.
But instead of complimenting her, he just said, “I’m glad you’re not fat like some of my friend’s wives.”
She knew what he meant: It wouldn’t be good for his image to be with someone who looked that way. He’s told her before that he couldn’t be with her even if she gained a few pounds, and it breaks her heart every time it comes up.
Samantha* hears keys fumbling behind the door.
Her husband enters, telling her he had to put in another late night at work. She thinks, “Yeah… so he says.”
She smells alcohol and perfume as he walks in. But he insists he hasn’t been drinking or with another woman. “Some women wear strong perfume at the office,” he says, “and I can’t help that.” He follows that up with, “You’re being crazy.”
Samantha then wonders whether she was overreacting.
In therapy, you’ll see that you’re NOT crazy or overreacting.
Ginger got tired of feeling sad and angry, so she called me for therapy. We identified the childhood trauma that kept her feeling like she didn’t deserve love. She learned about her need to be loved, her right to be respected, how to establish boundaries, and ways to express her feelings.
After a few sessions, Samantha learned to trust her instincts when she knew her husband was lying about his drinking and affairs. We worked on developing boundaries, and I recommended resources for families dealing with these issues, which helped her understand her enabling behaviors. When she finally set firm boundaries, her husband got the help he needed.
I’ve seen these issues time and again.
Ginger and Samantha are fictionalized composites of people I’ve helped.
It’s important to understand that some relationships are much more complicated than others, requiring stronger boundaries and healthier responses to turn them around.
I’ll help you with all that, but our work will start with helping you understand how these destructive relationships began in the first place.
Let me support and empower you to live the life you deserve!
I can’t wait to meet you. Take that first step by scheduling your free consultation: (818) 259-7650.
*Names and stories are fictionalized composites of people I’ve helped.